ArtACE Production holds its first Exhibition

The bright hues of a burning pirate ship, the soft glances of nature and the creativity of a sweet treat were just some of the artwork bouncing off the walls of the Caribbean Lifestyles Interior Decorating store as ArtACE Productions held their first exhibition.{{more}} The exhibition was held on Friday, April 8, 2011.

As the evening’s sunset cast hues of pink and gold across the sky at the store’s location at Frenches, guests enjoyed the equally brilliant hues of the paintings, and photographs done by artists Anneliese Percy, Edson Reece (Tequila Ross) and Calvert Jones, the founders of ArtACE.

Eloise Gonsalves, owner of the Caribbean Lifestyles, said that the event was an opportunity to bring art and design together. “This is an interior design store, but in any interior you need art on the walls, you need photographs…so we combined the two and decided to do this event.”

“I’m hoping that people will be able to make a connection between designing their interiors and art. It won’t just be about furniture and vases, but hopefully they will get an opportunity to see how art fits into designing,” Gonsalves said.

Gonsalves, who is wife of Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, added that the event was also an avenue to promote local talent. “My aim is to develop the local talent, give them an environment where they can showcase their talent,” Gonsalves said, adding that she is amazed by the local talent and that she has bought four pieces of the art which were available for sale at the exhibition.

The artists behind the event spoke with Searchlight about the birth of the ArtACE productions. Percy, a Trinidadian by birth, moved to St. Vincent and the Grenadines just two years ago and fell in love with the beauty of the island.

According to Percy, in a chance meeting with photographer Reece aboard a boat on Bequia, the idea to have an exhibition surfaced. Jones was then sought to contribute to the group, thus the birth of ArtACE.

The founders related that the group will act as a vehicle for budding photographers and artists to showcase their work, as they plan to have exhibitions featuring different artists every time. The main aim is to expose local talent, also giving them an opportunity to possibly commercialize their work.

Percy, who specializes in nature, as well as family portraits and maternity photography, showcased most of her nature themed work at the exhibition. She became interested in photography five years ago after encountering the people and culture of the Papa New Guinea. Since then, she has grown to love photography, sharing a special interest in nature. She, however, hopes that ArtACE can “break the cycle” of talented artists keeping their work to themselves. Her first exhibition of her work ever, Percy said that ArtACE seeks to encourage young talented individuals to come forward and showcase their work, or even think of it as a possible career.

A lover of nature himself, Reece other wise known as Tequila Ross, is a journalistic and nature photographer. He enjoys “writing with light’ as a photographer, having been in the field for six years. He plans to go into sale of stock photography to graphic designers, ad agencies and the like. Reece also likes to help others with his photography, having assisted the Girl Guides and also working with the Peace Corps “pieces of peace” project which encourages young people to display their talent.

Jones, bringing the most experience to the table, has been involved in art for 20 years now. He likes to showcase the Caribbean’s authenticity in his paintings, adding the vibrancy of colour to his work. Jones also does murals, covering entire rooms.

The feedback, according to Percy, on the night of the exhibition was good as persons showed interest of joining the group. The exhibition will run until Friday, April 15, 2011. The art showcase will be up for sale.